I had been looking for a deal on a dry cured country ham, and I just saw and
bought a dry cured picnic, or pork shoulder produced by Smithfield. Inc. for
$2.99/lb at 99 Ranch Market in Concord. It has the brand name "PIGGY",
though it is from the Smithfield company. I thought it was a steal, so as a
certified tightwad I bought it. It is quite small, 5lb, even for a picnic,
though dry cured hams are much lighter. On the internet I can find nothing
about a "PIGGY" brand dry cured smoked pork shoulder. There is nothing on
the Smithfield.com site about the product.

Do any know what this is? Have you tried one? Is it counterfeit? Do you have
any thoughts about cooking a dry cured picnic[ham]. I know "ham" does not
refer to the shoulder, even though I'm always hearing "picnic ham" I've
tried cooking several in the past, both simmering in water and baking, and
they've ended up like little strands of ham. Can you eat US dry cured pork
raw, without cooking? They are cured in the same fashion as proscuitto.

Kent
--
,constantly struggling with my level of ignorance